2 Doppie - Carlo II Gonzaga

Carlo II inherited the Duchy of Mantua as a minor following the catastrophic War of the Mantuan Succession, during which imperial troops had sacked the city in 1630 with a thoroughness that left the population decimated and the treasury gutted. His regency period under the Duchess of Nevers meant actual ducal authority was contested well into his nominal reign, and coinage production during these years was intermittent at best.

The MIR 678a variety is distinguished from the related 678 by subtle differences in the die cutting of the reverse field — a distinction that matters considerably to specialists working this series.